What is the PET Registry?

The Ontario PET Registry makes PET scans available to patients in certain cases where some evidence supports the benefit of PET scanning, but the evidence is too weak to support funding through the Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP).

The Registry collects additional data from participating patients to strengthen the evidence supporting the use of PET scans for eligible indications.

How do I enroll in the PET Registry?

Patients

Physicians

Speak with your physician to determine if you are eligible for the PET Registry, and whether a PET scan is an appropriate diagnostic or treatment assessment tool for you.

Information on the reason for the PET scan, and the results, are used to strengthen the evidence supporting the use of PET scanning for the indication.

Review the list of Registry indications (below) to confirm that your patient is eligible for the Ontario PET Registry.
If they are not, view these pages to find information about eligibility and access for the other uninsured programs:

Cancer indications

These indications are eligible for reimbursement through the Ontario PET Registry.

Anal canal cancer: for the initial staging of patients with T2-T4 (or node positive) squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal with or without evidence of nodal involvement on conventional anatomical imaging.

Lymphoma staging: for the baseline staging of patients with Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Melanoma: for the staging of patients with localized “high risk” melanoma, or for the evaluation of patients with isolated melanoma metastases when surgery or other ablative therapies are being considered.

Multiple myeloma/plasmacytoma:

Solitary plasmacytoma: for patients with presumed solitary plasmacytoma who are candidates for curative intent radiotherapy to determine whether solitary or multifocal/extensive disease; OR

Smoldering myeloma: for workup of patients with smoldering myeloma and negative or equivocal skeletal survey to determine whether smoldering or active myeloma; OR

Diagnosis (Plexiform Neurofibromas): for patients with suspicion of malignant transformation of plexiform neurofibromas; OR

Initial Staging: for patients with high grade (≥ Grade 2), or ungradable, soft tissue or bone sarcomas, with negative or equivocal findings for nodal or distant metastases on conventional imaging, prior to curative intent therapy.; OR

Re-staging: for patients with history of treated sarcoma with suspicion of, or confirmed, recurrent sarcoma (local recurrence or limited metastatic disease) being considered for curative intent or salvage therapy.

Paediatric Registry (patients must be <18 years of age):

For the following cancer types (ICCC)

Bone/Cartilage - Osteosarcoma, Ewings sarcoma

Connective/Other soft tissue - Rhabdomyosarcoma, Other

Kidney - Renal Tumour

Liver - Hepatic Tumour

Lymphoma/PTLD – Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Primary Brain - Astrocytoma, Medulloblastoma, Ependymoma, Other

Reproductive - Germ Cell Tumour

Sympathetic Nervous System - Neuroblastoma MIBG negative

Other – LCH, Melanoma of the Skin, Thyroid

For the following indications

Initial Staging

Monitoring response during treatment/determine response-based therapy

Rule out progression prior to further therapy

Suspected recurrence/relapse

Rule out persistent disease

Select optimal biopsy site

Neurological Indications

Epilepsy: for patients with medically-intractable epilepsy being assessed for epilepsy surgery

This list will be updated as Registries are closed, or new Registries are added. Please check back periodically.